23 Human rights activists released, among them two bloggers

The authorities released 23 human rights and opposition activists who had been on trial since 28 October. They included Ali Abdulemam and Abdeljalil Al-Singace, two bloggers who were arrested on 4 September. Two other defendants who tried in absentia were pardoned. All of the detainees had been mistreated and tortured, and the fundamental rights enshrined in international treaties signed and ratified by Bahrain were repeatedly flouted during the trial.